Behind Bars - Doing Press Time

"There's no law saying they [agencies] can't come to us," he says.

In Nevada, however, there is such a law. Padgett says the prison shop can't do state work without the State Printer's permission. This, he says, allows State Printer Don Bailey and himself to work together—not as adversaries.

As for using lifers to avoid constant retraining, Padgett says he doesn't do it. About 75 percent of his staff will likely be released, he estimates.